Toronto, ON - How much knowledge did you soak in during your high school science classes?

Endoplasmic Reticulum, Mitochondria and ribosome's are some of the features needed in a cell. A cell division occurs when a cell needs to repair or regenerate itself rapidly expanding to form new cells. The process is called Mitosis.

Now how can you relate that to hip hop?

Love, Passion and a Dedication for the art of Turntablism and music as a whole is the genetic make up of this cell. The division occurs when these three elements are at work, rapidly expanding to form a new sound. The final result of the process is the crew: Cell Division.

The Cell Division Crew consists of djs NV and Vision. For the past 5 years the Toronto scratch duos have delved into the realms of djing weekly residencies, beat production and promotions. "In this day and age DJ's are labeled as human juke boxes in the eyes of the public. Cell Division's mission is to let people know that dj's are performing artists and deserve a lot more respect for their hard work and delivery of musical entertainment." NV and Vision are not your typical top 40 pop djs. At their weekly residences they play a wide variety of new music while also reviving forgotten underground, classic and jazzy hip-hop, trip hop, rare groove, nu-jazz, down-Tempo and broken beats. Weather you're a super thug or a backpack slug, your head will be bopping.

NV and Vision have been hosting the free chilled out Saturday night jam The Hypnodic Showcase at the Down One lounge (49 Front St. East in Toronto) for the past 2 years. The showcase is probably the only place in the world that you can watch a magician performing alongside the djs and play some of your long lost favorites on the Atari 2600 at the same time. "Our intentions for any of our events is to create an outlet to display our array of musical skills, to let more people know that hip hop has expanded into new forms and to give people an option, or alternative to club land and mainstream music… We've had numerous positive revues in Toronto's 'NOW' & 'EYE' Magazine, local radio shows (88.1FM 89.5FM), and also from the increasing following of people which come to each & every one of the events." The Hypnodic Showcase also has frequent special guest bookings. Past guests have included: dj Fase, Serious, Planet P, Circle Research, Version Xcursion, Conjugal Visits, dj Hangman, dj Jynx, dj Islamabad, Moonstarr (PTR), Pangea Project, Notes To Self, Lost Principles and Aziam. The bar tenders and staff at Down One genuinely seem to be enjoying themselves and having a good time serving the patrons, if you can believe that. I've seen some Brian Flanagan (Tom Cruise) Cocktail moves being performed while Pitch Black and Herbalizer tracks bang in the background. The more tricks the bartender did, the stronger my drinks got. I wasn't complaining. "Well, almost three year ago myself and a couple of friends one of which lived close to Front St. were looking for a place close by to hang out at. We walked by a place called Down One Lounge and decided to head in. It was about 11:00pm on a Saturday night and we were the only once in this amazing lounge with pool tables, couches and a tripped out atmosphere. Myself being a dj and finding it very hard to find a residency in the city could not let this pass, so I set up a meeting with the owner which was set for September 11th 2001 but we all know or should know what happened that day. Anyway here we are now with around 250 people enjoying our vibe on a Saturday night and having a lot of fun." The Hypnodic showcase has been going so well that NV & Vision have now expanded to another weekly night. This time the club/lounge Fressen (478 Queen St. West) plays host to a Wednesday weekly.

If you haven't been to a Cell Division event, perhaps you have heard NV's production and cuts on Rikoshay's "Continuously" 12" (a favorite on the Gladstone What?! Show). NV can also heard cutting it up on the Bronze One EP "Just add Water" and on the tracks "Sun showers" (Sweet Music) feat. Equinox 199 & Yaseen (of Pangea Project) and "Low Ceilings" (Notes to Self). NV will be on the upcoming Pangea Project track "Labyrinth" produced by Bronze One, as well as on a few up coming Equinox 199 tracks. Cell Division are working on their own album consisting of collaborations with local talent (MC's, vocalists, tablists, producers) as well as featuring their own original production, tablism and strongly emphasizing our collective creativity. Look out for the various Cell Division mix tapes and instrumental releases at your local shop such as Corduroy High "Rockin' Beats" or Sounds From The Core Vol.1

Vision should be labeled the hardest working promoter in Toronto. It is next to impossible to go to a hip hop or even urban event without seeing Vision waiting outside to hand you a flier or to talk about his upcoming jams and activities "If you really believe in your product, your movement or your talent you need to get out and let people see your determination. No matter if it's fuckin raining, snowing or freezing get out there. There is always a reward at the end of a lot of hard work and dedication. I know you all heard that before but it's very true." If you were building a street team you'd want Vision to train your crew.

"Those who know Cell Division know that we are not out to take over but to let more close minded people know that Hip Hop has expanded into all kinds of new forms, one of which is featured @ our weekly residency, Trip Hop. Keeping it underground or whatever the hell people want to call it we not only drop hip-hop classics but also cousins of hip-hop and beats that any music lover can appreciate.

On the production tip, we would like to do a lot more collaborations with Mcs, Vocalists and musicians of all types. Taking what we have learned from the amazing and influential hip hop artists of the past and looking towards the future, working hard until we get to the point were we are influencing people around the world."

Check out Gladstone What?! Episode 10 for a special guest set from the Cell Division Crew. (http://hiphopcanada.com/_site/media/radio/gladstonewhat/)

The Cell Division website can be found at: http://www.celldivisioncrew.com/site.htm Check out NV and Vision every Wednesday night at Fressen (478 Queen St. West, Toronto) or every Saturday night during the Hypnodic Showcase hosted at Down One Lounge (49 Front St. East).